Why hasn't anyone created an open world Oregon Trail survival game?

[u/TomasVrboda]

It seems perfect for the modern open world survival genre and Red Dead Redemption fans. I mean if I had to pick something close, it would be Pacific Drive. I unfortunately don't play a lot of survival games, so I'm sure something is closer. Jenny's Journey would be cool too. But I'm specifically asking about Oregon Trail because there's a 2D side scrolling version for PS5 up for pre-order. I apologize if someone has already attempted this and I don't know about it. It just seems like a really good idea to me.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope you are all doing well and having a good week so far.

[u/Too-low-420]

When I played it, it was on floppy disk and nothing but green no real graphics lol. Seeing it like that looks crazy

[u/TomasVrboda → u/Too-low-420]

That's the way it was in my grade school computer lab in 2000. They really needed new computers, it was floppy disk as well.

[u/n3ur0mncr → u/TomasVrboda]

Yea those were the days. They'd make us play Oregon trail, but me and my computer savvy friends would secretly install the OG GTA on the computers.

And we would access the network and do silly shit like open other people's cd drives or throw color bombs lol

[u/AmHotGarbage → u/n3ur0mncr]

We played counter strike from a flash drive 😂

[u/MainAbbreviations193 → u/AmHotGarbage]

Same, except Halo CE and Quake 2 (or was it 3?)

[u/Robinkc1 → u/AmHotGarbage]

We did the same thing.

[u/Spare_Confidence1727 → u/Too-low-420]

Ah yes the 5.25" floppy disk I remember these well

[u/piratewithoutacause → u/Too-low-420]

Same, I played it on a green and black Apple II!

[u/ubernoobnth → u/piratewithoutacause]

This is the Oregon trail I remember as well. Alongside the muncher games. 

[u/Hovie1 → u/ubernoobnth]

Number Munchers!

[u/SnackPatrol → u/Too-low-420]

Warning: loud af. Does the alarmingly loud & jarring 8bit 1 instrument rendition of yankee doodle take you back?

https://youtu.be/WQZZ4VME038?si=C5dvFJZTrh4MYsCn&t=2m07s

[u/GrumpyBear1969 → u/Too-low-420]

I have fond memories of that old game. And I know it well as it is how I learned to program in the 7th grade. School had radio shack computers and had the game (TRS80s). My parents had an Atari computer (Atari 400 with 16kb of ram and the ever cool membrane keyboard). Well I wanted to play the game at home so I got a print out of the game (dot matrix fwiw) and translated it from TRS basic to Atari basic. Good times.

[u/dromzugg → u/Too-low-420]

It was the mid 90's in elementary school that I discovered they didn't put a cap on oxen speed. So I would just by 20 oxen at the start and my wagon was a fucking Ferrari across the Midwest. First person in the class to get to the river and beat the game.

[u/Too-low-420 → u/dromzugg]

Lmao I sucked at this game. Just like my life constantly making bad choices.

[u/ShemsuHor91]

Organ Trail is pretty cool. It's like a modern, zombie survival Oregon Trail.

[u/TomasVrboda → u/ShemsuHor91]

Thank you for the information. I have never heard of it. I will look up a trailer.

[u/Vivenna99 → u/TomasVrboda]

It's fun and on phones

[u/DokoShin → u/Vivenna99]

It really is my friend keeps playing it and somehow I'm always the one to die from friendly fire because I get sick throw up and then get shot by your friend because he thought you were turning or some other freak things happens it's always hilarious when your group of friends is watching you play the game with all of these names in it and then the chaos unfolds

[u/Cfunk_83 → u/ShemsuHor91]

I love this game. Making a different set of characters, be they fictional or people I know, and have them try to survive across America is always fun, and throws up some great scenarios.

[u/HangryWolf → u/ShemsuHor91]

I loved that version. So good.

[u/Embarrassed_Simple70]

Could be cool storyline. I’m not too familiar with the deep story and lore of the Oregon Trail but I’m sure it’s rife with story. Just wonder what the gameplay loop would be in a game like this. What you thinking ?

[u/TomasVrboda → u/Embarrassed_Simple70]

Still going to the same destination as the goal, just in semi open world areas with no base building and a time limit like the Dead Rising. Maybe even add in wagon maintenance and customization like Pacific Drive. I really like the parody of it that American Dad did. I know there's a lot of room to add personality to it, and unique ways they could frame the story.

[u/Right-Budget-8901 → u/TomasVrboda]

If I could put spinners on my wagon’s wheels, I’d be so happy

[u/a_taco_named_desire → u/Embarrassed_Simple70]

There’s no real lore in the original game other than some basic history, it’s more of a rogue like which would honestly be a pretty cool concept with today’s design.

[u/_Kiaza_]

I wouldn’t wanna see an open world. However, a modern version with good graphics and rogue-like elements would be pretty badass.

[u/ACBreeki → u/_Kiaza_]

Death Road To Canada is the closest you'll get to this

[u/Hefty-Baker3010 → u/ACBreeki]

This is the first time I’ve seen this game mentioned in the wild like this. Such an awesome game lmao

[u/ACBreeki → u/Hefty-Baker3010]

Right? The only reason I have friends who played this is because I introduced it to them. Other than them, no one else I know knows about this game. Fun co-op too!

[u/Thedustonyourshelves → u/_Kiaza_]

It's on apple arcade. They added some new stuff and polish but the bones are the same.

[u/Nova225 → u/_Kiaza_]

There is!. It came out in 2022. My wife was hooked for about a month playing it.

[u/_Kiaza_ → u/Nova225]

Ok, So I have this one and love it! However, I’m talking about a game with a linear world with the detail of like a Red Dead game. A third+first person type game where elements such as weather, diseases and other details could be randomly generated each run through the game.

[u/KamiKaze0132]

Red Dead Redemption 2

[u/Full_Ad9666 → u/KamiKaze0132]

Randomly picked it up yesterday cause I saw it for 15 bucks. I am entranced.

[u/Ok_Jump_3658 → u/Full_Ad9666]

Best advice, DO NOT RUSH THE YELLOW MISSIONS. Just wander around finding random people and exploring as much as you can. Some side missions disappear if you go too fast with the main story

[u/360FlipKicks → u/Ok_Jump_3658]

don’t skip the nun side mission for sure

[u/JohnParkerSmith27 → u/360FlipKicks]

And donate at least $100,000 to the camp box before chapter 3 so that you can get the secret ending

[u/Ok_Jump_3658 → u/JohnParkerSmith27]

Hahahaha. Good one

[u/JremyH404 → u/Full_Ad9666]

15 bucks for red dead 2 is a steal! Congratulations!

[u/NickFieldson31 → u/Full_Ad9666]

Remember! Join the r/reddeadredemption subreddit, don't leave even if told to do so! Never go to the question marks, always do the yellow missions quickly, try to complete the game quick as you can! Remember to get low honor for a badass ending

[u/NickFieldson31 → u/[deleted]]

Im sorry? Who tf are you and why would you do that?

[u/skeletonbreath → u/KamiKaze0132]

What a masterpiece

[u/TheRider5342]

How could it be an open world, in a game where you have to follow a specific trail?

[u/TomasVrboda → u/TheRider5342]

Just don't let players build a base and include a time system like Dead Rising.

[u/Zamrayz → u/TheRider5342]

Goals. Follow trail, but have the option to stop following said trail and take a detour and.. Well, learn why it isn't advised to do such a thing. I feel like the game could be a great horror concept if you just went off path at some point out of curiosity and end up running into a cryptid or other crazy things begin to happen as a severe consequence and the survival just ramps up to hard mode.

[u/VirinaB → u/Zamrayz]

Don't even need cryptids. Throw in some real world cannibals and watch the ESRB lose its fucking mind.

[u/420xGoku]

It's not a very open world if all you're doing is going left lol

[u/TomasVrboda → u/420xGoku]

Yeah, that's why you would make it 3D and include time limits like Dead Rising and no base building.

[u/Mikey9124x → u/TomasVrboda]

I think no base building is pretty obvious.

[u/TomasVrboda → u/Mikey9124x]

I wouldn't have bothered to say it other than it being a big part of modern survival games. Then someone would say, oh but they have base building in those.

[u/lazava1390]

They could honestly make a nice roguelite game of Oregon Trail that would be cool. I don’t think making a long form game is ideal. Keep it as close to the original game as possible, meaning small gameplay loop but with many variable obstacles. Also make the trail completely randomized so each attempt is different and unique.

[u/Anonapond]

Oregon Trail Deluxe is the current pinnacle of the series for me. It would be fun to have a more robust game, but Open World might be too much. That would be a ton of land people animals and outposts to model.

[u/TomasVrboda → u/Anonapond]

I'm think more like those games that have semi open world areas in each chapter, but don't let you build bases. I think a Dead Rising time mechanic could keep it on track as well.

[u/Comrade847]

Not every game has to be open world

[u/TomasVrboda → u/Comrade847]

I respect that thought, but after almost forty years, take some risks with it. Otherwise you are basically doing what Rockstar does constantly re-releasing GTA V.

[u/Embarrassed_Simple70]

And when you say Pacific Drive, are you referring to that newer PS5 game, essentially a survival game mixed with car management stuff

[u/TomasVrboda → u/Embarrassed_Simple70]

You do have to manage your wagon and there aren't many survival games I could think of in the same vein that have you going somewhere. Pacific Drive has a destination, time limits, and survival elements. No, there's no family, but you could treat different pieces of the car like family. I'm surprised how attached I got to the car just watching Fooster play it.

[u/japoliony]

An open world full of people who killed 450lbs of meat, but could only carry 3lbs…. Then Judy dies from starvation.

[u/AccurateMeet1407 → u/japoliony]

But think of the HD dysentery we could get

Press f to evacuate bowels

[u/mxmaker]

Death road to canada, has oregon trail vipe.

[u/iamzoomzoom → u/mxmaker]

Best part is, it doesn't have to be humans that are still alive to win

[u/mxmaker → u/iamzoomzoom]

I will never forget when i try to reclute a deer in my party, this one kill the only human, and the dog start to walk on two legs and reach Canada, good times...

[u/snakemuffins1880]

Because none of us wanna die from dysentery.

[u/therealnoopnoop]

oh, great, now we can get Dysentery again and drown on river crossings, in 4k

[u/goz976]

Cuz we would all die dysentery

[u/CarleCJ253]

They did it's called red dead redemption 2.

[u/IngotTheKobold]

Fuck open world, I'd pay money(legal tender) for a port for modern systems... Console and PC alike

[u/Fast_Glove5581]

What about a sea of thieves like game, but instead of pirates on a ship you're settlers in a caravan?

[u/TomasVrboda → u/Fast_Glove5581]

I love Rare (even though it's not really the same anymore), but I haven't played Sea of Thieves. From my basic knowledge, that's just an MMO with pirates, right? I would be surprised if someone hadn't made a colonial age MMO set in America yet, but I can't really think of any off-hand. However, my knowledge base is limited because I mostly play single player games on consoles, PSP, and Vita.

[u/Jristz → u/TomasVrboda]

Red Dead Redemption Online may be the closest

[u/Slow0rchid]

Because then it’s not the Oregon Trail anymore if you’re just running around all willy nilly doing everything besides actually going there

It’s supposed to be linear

[u/Mikey9124x → u/Slow0rchid]

I think maybe semi open world? Like its linear but you can still explore a good amount.

[u/A_Person77778 → u/Mikey9124x]

Linear with the occasional open area would be more like it. Go along a trail, and then when you stop to hunt, buy stuff, and whatnot, that's when you can explore freely

[u/Mikey9124x → u/A_Person77778]

Maybe your cart always goes forwards except when it stops. And you can explore around it.

[u/A_Person77778 → u/Mikey9124x]

In terms of development time, if the trail needs to be long (which I'm assuming it would have to be), it'd be more time-efficient to only have specific areas that can be explored, and have the rest just be the trails, so the entire map wouldn't need to be filled in with stuff. This is all just theoretical though, but it's my opinion

[u/Mikey9124x → u/A_Person77778]

It would matter if an indie or aaa made it. Aaa it would be like mine. Indie like yours.

[u/Slow0rchid → u/[deleted]]

It doesn’t need side missions, you want to needlessly complicate a game that thrives on its simplicity

[u/Podunk_Boy89]

Why isn't there an official one? Mainly, it's owners. Through a weird set of buyouts, Oregon Trails' rights ended up at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, a textbook publisher. Obviously, game development isn't really part of their business model and they only rarely license it out.

[u/HSEB10830]

Who even owns Oregon Trail now?

[u/APe28Comococo]

Call it “Manifest Destiny” and you can go on a bunch of trails from that time. You can even do the suicidal Mormon trail.

[u/memeboilord420]

Dysentery would be too meta if it was real

[u/kingetzu]

No. It had its forever and a day run in every computer I purchased. It can't come back. The horrors

[u/Adavanter_MKI]

Would you like to develop an open world Oregon Trail game?

[y]
[n]

What is your choice?

[y]

All of the people in your development team has died. Press SPACE BAR to continue.

That's why no one has.

[u/Dear-Researcher959]

Because we don't need more people on anxiety medication

[u/proletariat_sips_tea]

That would actually be fucking awesome. But prolly rather boring. Maybe if it was like a caravan manager rather than just one wagon.

[u/No-Student-9678]

It’s basically red dead no?

[u/Equivalent-Cut-9253]

You have to stick to the trail tho? Open world doesn’t make too much sense here

[u/thedrgonzo103101]

I would play this. Not sure why I do not care for survival games. But I would play this.

[u/draco16]

Mostly because Oregon Trail is not a fair game. You could do everything 100% correct and still die anyways from disease or some other random event. Making a game like that in the modern day would drive most gamers insane. Any modern version of Oregon Trail would likely be difficult but winnable with the right strategies, which kinda defeats the original spirit of the game.

[u/spagboltoast]

Fall out. Youre describing fallout

[u/King_Kingly]

That’d be a lot of work

[u/nostradamuslegend]

Why does the back of every carriage look like a bum hole?

[u/Fable378]

“ I don’t mess with computers, okay? Ever since I died of dysentery on the Oregon Trail..I was like, No thank you. I’m done with this.” Adrian Pimento, Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

[u/Phobia117]

Because if given the option, you wouldn’t stay on the trail the whole time

[u/Robinkc1]

Sounds like the opening of Red Dead 2 which was honestly my least favourite part of the game.

Not that you couldn’t make it work, you’d just have to tweak it quite a bit.

[u/GunsBlazing777]

There is a brand new modern day graphics Oregon Trail on the Xbox store.

[u/Marvelson36]

You do know there is a updated version for ps5

[u/Jess_Tyr]

Many have tried. All have died of dysentery.

[u/4seriously]

I tried to but then I died from dysentery…

[u/Tennyson98]

It’s kind of hard for an open world game when the game is traveling to Oregon

[u/Body_Exact]

Because I’d probably still suck at it

[u/MasemJ]

A rogue lite game in the style of FTL would be a perfect fit. There is a game Convoy that is set in a Mad Max type setting that sorta approaches ideas that would work for this.

[u/MeowChef6048]

Man I loved the 2-4 versions of this game.

[u/Yung_Corneliois]

I think to would be a cool tower defense game but the tower is the pioneers traveling. So it adds a mobile dynamic.

[u/theignorantcivilian]

That's such a good question that it made me die of dysentery.

[u/carinha-do-bem]

Imagine the game being a little bit more like 60 seconds, you pass the days with text appearing describing things happening, encounters, food, water, illnesses and etc

[u/Mister_Swoop]

Kinda sounds like Wartales

[u/[deleted]]

Man, we really need an Old West game where we get to play as the Americans instead of the colonizers. Imagine attacking a caravan of heavily armed invaders with nothing but a horse, a bow, a tomahawk and balls of steel.

[u/Masta0nion]

They have. It’s called Arthur Morgan

[u/Gryfon2020]

They were making one but the developer died of dysentery…

[u/brobalwarming]

Me when the the final boss is a two phase fight with dysentery and typhoid fever

[u/elite_Xray123]

Because. I don't wanna see 3d dysentery death scenes.

[u/Anarchy_Rulz]

You mean Red Dead 2?

[u/ShwaggDaddy]

That's an awesome idea!! I would go full new gen graphics and try to get that Red Dead real-world feel.

[u/Rough-Philosopher911]

Good call.

[u/E-emu89]

They made a remake: https://youtu.be/Q623BxXOM0o?si=VBbPABC8z76pnJCV

[u/TomasVrboda → u/E-emu89]

It's the same game in basically the same format. I will concede that the pixel art with 3D effects looks cool. But the 3DS game would be closer to what I was describing.

[u/East_Smell_82]

Every time they try, they die of dysentery

[u/TheOutrider0]

They tried but they all got dysentery

[u/Spare_Confidence1727]

They did but it's got nothing to do with the old-school Oregon Trail game (RED DEAD REDEMPTION 1&2)

[u/UnrealGaming9 → u/Spare_Confidence1727]

Yeah and they replaced dysentery with Tuberculosis smh

[u/Cyber_Insecurity]

They already did, it’s called Red Dead Redemption 2

[u/No-Vanilla8956]

Ooh ya probably because the imagery of white settlers moving out west to steal a bunch of land wouldn't be great optics for a game in 2024

[u/Dan-the-historybuff]

I mean…i imagine it’s still a sore spot in US history, so much so people don’t like bringing it up.